This week started off pretty crazy and just kept getting crazier...
There was a big storm on Monday and none of the grocery stores were open for us to get our shopping done for the week. Because of the rain, it was harder to find people to teach. We pushed through and got as much done as we could, but it was still a shaky start. I was feeling overly dramatic and weepy.
On Tuesday, we traveled to Pedro Juan and I stayed there with Hermana Chempene from Peru and Hermana Willis and Hermana Francios from Hati. It was an extremely enlightening division. It sure is different in Pedro Juan. I had the chance to see how other districts work and what it’s like to be a missionary to a well established ward. There was SO much support there. I saw more members in my one day of work than double what we have attending on a good Sunday. I’m not saying this to compare numbers or complain, but rather that I recognized that even within the same mission every area is REALLY different. Also, there are good and bad’s to Everything. It’s AWESOME the support they had there, but as a result of the lack of ward here in YBY YAU we have a very close district that works wonderfully as a team with a focused unanimous goal!
Hemana Chempene was awesome and I loved having a Latina companion for a day. It forced me to speak Spanish all day, but I didn’t mind! I was so thrilled that people there understood Spanish! More often than not in Yby Yau they speak more Guarani and can only understand very simple terms and small talk in Spanish. It was so wonderful to teach a lesson and feel like they understood! On the other hand it was hard not to start speaking in the little Guarani I do know, out of habit. I was pleased with the reactions of the people there when I did speak in Guarani. They seemed extremely impressed by my Guarani and grateful that I was trying to learn a language that is so close to their hearts and such a part of their culture. The best part was when they disbelieved my "mission age" because I spoke Guarani and Spanish WAY too well to only have 3 months (ok ok enough bragging... :) but it did make me feel like a million bucks )
I loved the whole exchanged and learned a lot of new things. My overall impression was that I still have plenty to experiences to have and even more to learn here in Paraguay, but I am certain I already knew that. The more I learn the more I recognize how little I know and how much I have left to learn. I´m starting to wonder if 18 (now 15) months is long ENOUGH!
I also gained alot of HOPE from the divisions. The hermanas apartment was really lovely so I hope for a change with less rats in my future and... get this--- HOT WATER! Someday I will get to have a hot shower once more! PRAISES!
I gained hope that I AM learning way more Guarani than most/is expected so thats nice because I was feeling like a Do-Do here in YBY YAU only being able to pray and small talk and share my testimony that ñanda ha`e Ñanejara ra`ykuera!
I gained hope that I actually dont suck as bad as I thought at Spanish AND that I will rapidly learn more as soon as I get a Latina Comp again.
I gained hope that there are towns that aren’t located in Satan’s Armpit (aka it wasn’t so blasted hot there)
I sat on a COUCH!! I had a LUNCH appointment!!!!!!!!!!!!! I RODE IN A CAR!!!!! It was the fanciest experience of my life and I felt like My Fair Lady.
When back in Yby Yau, Hermana Willis and I got back to work. In fact I was welcomed back to the country by diving into the dirt and pricklies of Lorenza´s mandioca feild again! It felt good to get down and dirty again! I`m happy to say I felt at home! (well like...Paraguay home). I guess my little `Eat Dirt` town is growing on me.
We, as you know, ARE the ward here and so this week we planned,prepared and executed a Relief Society activity somehow between our regular missionary resposibilities. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to not be the Ward Council, Primary President, Relief Society Committee and Activities Committee and "just" be a missionary. I understand , of course, that this IS part of being a missionary, especially in areas where that support and help is needed for the Ward. Sometimes I get discouraged though, feeling as though I have so much I wish I could give more to each of the categories, but I only have 24 hours in a day and we (Hermana Willis and I) are only 2 people! But I find comfort in knowing I really am giving all I possibly can to each aspect of my current callings and hoping and praying for the grace of God to fill in the rest.
He does fill in the rest too. Hermana Willis and I, after planning and buying the supplies for the Activity with Hermana Romina, focused the whole week on inviting EVERY lady we saw to come share in an afternoon dedicated to supporting and uplifting Gods precious Daughters. We invited, seemingly if not THE, the entire female population of Yby Yau to the event. Besides the three of us that planned it, three others showed up. One Hermana had been assinged to give a small intro about the Releif Society during the meeting and the other two young women gave the closing and opening prayers. The spirit was very lovely and I really think they deserved to take part in a well executed event where we went ALL OUT and they got to just enjoy. During the activity nine neighborhood children, two of the Hermana`s sons and three little sisters of one of the young Women showed up to help us eat all the food we had prepared and the BEAUTIFUL cake Hermana Willis and I had decorated. I prayed and prayed and prayed people would come and they did! Maybe not the people I had thought/wanted, but the kids all came bathed and behaved as well as little kids can. I was glad for that. I joked with HNA W. that if we threw a Primary Activity unexpected Hermanas would show up. :)
At Church we had the son of a Menos Activo named Aierton (age 17) show up for the 2nd Sunday in a row! He came in a Suit! Also, Anacleto, whom the missionaries have been working with since before my first day here to help overcome some addictions, passed the Santa Cena this week. Those things made me happy to witness.
I hope were doing enough and the right stuff. I feel like we are. I find comfort in knowing that I am EXHAUSTING myself doing the work of God.
I am dead... because tired, exhausted, worn out do not cover the fatigue I feel.
I have a blister the size of a marble on my toe that is the Piggy that had `none` roast beef (the 2nd to pinky toe)
My back is broken
16 Assistencia....
0 confirmados
0bautizados
Those last few mumuring lines are for Mom because she said I make it seem like its ALL wonderful here
I quote the great Kimya Dawson to express my feelings
"Life is a highway and Im gonna ride it and everyday is a winding road,
yeah
My Roller Coaster`s got the biggest ups and downs but
as long as it keeps goin`round it`s unbelieveable!"
I love this crazy mission I am on and during the downs of `my roller coaster`I am so grateful to have a Father in Heaven who loves me, a family at home who understand why I do the things I do. Knowing when people do them too makes me really happy. Thank you to all who have written me telling me they took me up on my invite (which was really just an echo of Moroni`s promise) and are reading the Book of Mormon.
I carry around copies of that little blue book on my broken back and squish my swollen toes into mary-janes everyday. I walk under the hot sun up and down dusty dirt roads along side one missionary (and metaphorically thousands more) to try to do MY little tiny part in building up his kingdom.
I do this because I know that that little blue book and ALL that is riding on it´s validity (in so many words the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is 100% true.
I have invited you all and am Re-Reinviting you all... no this time I DARE you. I DOUBLE DOG.... I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU to read it and ask for yourself in humble prayer if it is not true.
I testify that if you ask with a sincere heart, doubting not, that by the power of the Holy Spirit
Ye may know the truth of all things.
And if my silly little triple dog dare paired with my testimony is still not enough to compel you to action
I exhort you to look up Jeffery R Holland`s (an Apostle of the Lord) POWERFUL testimony of that same book.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints is the true church of God restored today on the Earth. I promise that you and your loved ones can find true and lasting happiness by living its principles and teachings. You find these teachings and the fullness of the Gospel in The Book Of Mormon.
I testify of these truths in the name of our brother, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ
